Castillo de Bellver

I visited Bellver Castle in December 2025, and it was an incredible experience. The winter weather was crisp and clear, making the views from the top even more breathtaking — you can see all of Palma and the surrounding coastline in every direction. The castle itself is unique, with its circular design and well-preserved medieval architecture. Walking through the courtyards and towers felt like stepping back in time, and the museum inside provided interesting insights into Mallorca’s history. December was a great time to visit because it was peaceful and not crowded at all. Overall: A must-visit in Palma, especially for anyone who loves history, architecture, and panoramic city views. Quiet, scenic, and atmospheric in winter — absolutely magical.

For €4 it is great value. This is a truly memorable visit. Situated atop a wooded hill just outside Palma, the Castell de Bellver offers sweeping panoramic views of the city, the bay and the Mediterranean—a fitting interpretation of its name, which translates as “beautiful view”. The castle itself is remarkable. Built around 1300–1310 for King James II of Mallorca, it stands as one of the few circular-plan castles in Europe and certainly the only one of its kind in Spain. Wandering the interior courtyard, ramparts and the keep you can really sense its mix of royal residence and fortress. Inside you’ll also find a well-curated city history museum, providing insights into Palma’s evolution from ancient times to the present day. The forest around the castle adds a relaxing walk-up through pine trees, making arrival feel more like an experience rather than just a stop. A few practical notes: Be prepared for some uphill walking if you approach on foot or via public transport. Visit during late afternoon if possible—the golden light enhances the castle’s stonework and the views-out become especially atmospheric. Allow enough time to explore both the exterior terrace and the museum inside. Check opening hours in advance (note: Mondays may be closed) and consider a guided tour to appreciate the architecture and history more fully.

Castell de Bellver – A Panoramic Gem Above Palma We visited Castell de Bellver as part of our 48-hour City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our Palma itinerary. The bus dropped us right near the entrance, making access effortless and scenic—winding through pine-covered hills with glimpses of the sea. The castle itself is a rare circular fortress with Gothic architecture and a commanding view over the Bay of Palma. Its unique design and elevated position make it feel like a watchtower over centuries of history. Inside, the museum offers a compact but rich narrative of Palma’s past, and the central courtyard is a peaceful spot to pause and soak in the atmosphere. What truly stood out was the panoramic terrace—360° views that stretch from the Tramuntana mountains to the cathedral and port. It’s a photographer’s dream and a moment of quiet majesty above the bustle below. Entry was included with our bus ticket, which made the experience feel even more seamless and well-integrated. If you’re doing the hop-on hop-off tour, this stop is absolutely worth it—both for the history and the views.

Probably top five places to visit. The museum exhibits within the castle tell the history of Mallorca, including prehistoric times. The castle is small so there is not a lot to see, but there are nice views of the city as well. It is a nice walk around the hiking trails leading up to the castle so you cand spend a couple hours hiking and viewing the exhibits, or you can drive ti the top and just see the castle in an hour+.

Marvelous castle settle on top of a hill with wonderful views of the city, the harbour and the sea. There's a parking place just in front of the entrance. Inside the castle there's a museum with the history of the castle , from the first human settlements till the last use like a jail in the past century. Very well preserved, so clean all around. A place to visit for it's importance in the history and because the surrounding views

Castell de Bellver, whose name literally translates to 'beautiful view' in old Catalan, is an absolute must-see when visiting Palma. Its unique circular Gothic design—the only one of its kind in Spain—sets it apart immediately. Perched on a forested hill about three kilometers west of the city center, the castle offers a stunning 360-degree panorama of the entire Bay of Palma, the city's harbor, and the distant Tramuntana mountains. The main draw is walking the rooftop battlements, where you can fully appreciate the scale of the structure and the vistas. Inside, the central circular courtyard is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, and the ground floor houses the City History Museum. Beyond its royal history, the castle served as a military prison for centuries, adding a layer of dramatic history. While getting up the hill requires a little effort (or a bus ride), the payoff in views and historical significance makes it well worth the trip.

As castles go I'd say this is generally a nice castle. 4 stars for 2 reasons....1) we couldn't access the tallest tower and nobody mentioned that. Just imagine the views... 2) I'd have loved to understand more about the castle but all the info boards were in spanish only (yes I know, its in Mallorca but its a tourist destination....help the tourists out!)....yes, technology allows translation easy enough but its the inconvenience. Anyway, the castle is set within a large park area full of trails, roads and lots of steps. I probably would not recommend tackling this place if you aren't too steady on your feet or have a wheelchair. We entered from the East side nearest the church. The steps up to the castle got the heart rate up for sure. We noticed lots of joggers using the park and bounding up the steps. We also noticed lots of tourists with tight tops looking a bit sweaty....loose clothing recommended. See pics for some idea of the mountainous ascent. Anyway, there's lots to see in the castle. Mostly statues. There was a wedding taking place when we were there. What a lovely setting indeed. One of the best part of visiting this castle was the incredible circular, almost Colosseum like central structure but beyond that the views. Simply stunning in all directions. Go on a clear day! Aside from that I wish we'd had more time to explore the grounds around the castle. Overall if you fancy taking a break away from the busy centre of Palma, then take a bus or taxi ( it takes no time from the centre) and enjoy taking in some breathtaking views and a wonderful piece of history.

It was ok. Parking was easy. Directions to the entrance didn't exist, but we found it back down the road. It's a castle turned into a history of Palma museum. I wanted to see what the castle looked like when it was lived in. The only original room appeared to be the prayer room and you can't enter it. Great views from the top.

The he Castell de Bellver is a 14th-century circular castle, the only one of its kind in Spain. Jaume II ordered it built atop a hill known as Puig de Sa Mesquida in 1300 and it was largely completed within 10 years The castle was conceived above all as a royal residence but only King Sanç in 1314 & Aragón's Joan I in 1395 lived here for any amount of time. In 1717 it became a military prison,used in both the Napoleonic and Spanish Civil Wars. Prisoner's' graffiti was etched into the stonework. The ground-floor City History Museum traces the development of the city from the prehistoric Talayotic civilisation to the present day. As well as Roman & Arabian ceramics there are classical statues & artifacts. Upstairs are a series of largely empty chambers, including the one-time kitchen.

Yes, the Hop On / Hop Off doubledecker bus goes to the Castillo and makes a stop but I decided to walk it. It's a nice walk along Palma's marina with a few coffee shops and bars along the way and then begins the 100 meter ascent through a few streets and an "interesting" alley that made getting to the castle an earned event. The castle itself was built in the 14th century and was the original residence of the kings of Majorca. It was also a military prison for a long time. It survived two attempted sieges (one in 1343 and another in 1391), only falling once into enemy hands in 1521. It is quite the impressive structure and well worth the visit. From the heights of the castle, there are some great panoramic views of the port and the city of Palma. It is well worth making the effort to visit, whether you do it by food or by vehicle. There is a free parking lot.

A great piece of history preserved in this ancient gothic castle on a hill. Located just west of the city of Palma on the island of Majorca. Great castle to explore and see this place that was built for King James Il in the 14th century to protect from the plague. There is a cafe on site to grab food, soda and water. They do have handicap access but it is very difficult. The ramp to push a wheelchair is at the bottom of a large hill so you need to go all the way down to push the wheelchair up. There is a lift to see different levels of the castle.

It's a nice little landmark you can get a few fun photos at without a crazy crowd. It's not going to blow you away, but it has some decent photo ops. There was a tour bus that dropped us off here so it wasn't too much of a hassle. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to get here, but if you have time it's worth a stop.

Ok this is going to sound, a wee bit strange but the pan (bread) at the little cafe on at the entrance was incredible. The castle was really cool to explore. Once we got to the castle, from the ticket counter, we noticed there was no one to help with the (locked up) handicap lifts. My mother waited at the castle entrance while the rest of us explored the castle. (I don't think she was interested in the castle, I think it worked out). If you are handicap and interested, I suggest mentioning to the ticket folks you will need assistance. I also recommend getting there early, its pleasant to walk the corridors with less folks. The handicap entrance is the service entrance driveway be prepared to go up a very steep incline. (did I say steep? I meant to say "very" steep). We (as a family) enjoyed the castle and do recommend a visit.

This is a quick and cheap stop that you must make if you're visiting Palma. You can tour the castle for just a few euros. My husband is a history buff and absolutely LOVED it. After walking through the castle, you can actually go to the top of the castle where you have a stunning view of the port and the city of Palma (as shown in the picture). The beauty is just inexplicable. You won't regret your visit!

Beautiful castle on the island of Mallorca. It only costs 4€ per person and the tickets is on the far left upon entrance and then you'll need to walk back towards the entrance for entry. It has a lot of rooms within the castle with historical information and old pieces that use to reside in the castle when King James ruled. My favorite fact is that all stonemasons that help build the castle make their own special markings to get paid and to Mark their work - so if you pay close attention to the castle walls, you'll see markings from the stonemasons. Definitely worth a visit to learn facts about the island :)

Nice castle to visit. There's a good walk up the hill though Bellver's forest, and when you are up the castle you get a 360 view of the surrounding area. It's really nice how much you get to see on a clear day. In addition to the views, there's a small museum where Palma's history is explored. I strongly recommend walking the way up and down the hill, as it adds up to the experience and it's not to hard.

Very nicely situated round castle, we were lucky to have a workshops and lunch in this beautiful scenery- staff was very friendly and views very breathtaking!

As a tourist spot, there isn't much to see here, so I wouldn't recommend the trek up here unless it's already on your route or you want a panoramic view of the Palma. The first floor is sometimes used as a venue for concerts, but from the roof of the castle, you can get gorgeous views of the ocean and the city of Palma. Beyond that, there really isn't much here, so if you can get a great vantage point elsewhere, you can probably skip Bellver Castle.

Meh. This Castle didn't have a lot to look at. It was big, but wasn't too special. I think the nicest part was the fact that they had free wi-fi. Honestly I would suggest skipping this as a tourist location.

Relatively easy access. Ample parking. Short drive from the city center. Fairly low cost admission. It would seem like a great place for views of Palma. We were there on a super rainy day, but still had city/port views. It would probably be awesome on sunny days. Overall, worth the price and time to get there.

The most over-rated, over-marketed and nonsense place in town! And we went up there by bike! Poor, poor pitiful us. Flooded with tourist groups from the cruise liners. Skip it, and you will stay much happier.